Charnjit Singh "Sonny" Bassi, 45, who has been known to police for a long time but hasn't accumulated a substantial record, was shot dead by police when he pulled his handgun out of a holster and fired at Const. Michael Klarenbeek.

Two police officers shot back, killing Bassi on the corridor floors inside the courthouse at a time when only three armed officers were in the front lobby.

Brampton's courthouse was fortified Monday by the presence of heavily-armed ETF officers and police squad cars circling the outside premises.

"Police are really wondering if others aren't involved. For one man to try to penetrate a courthouse to shoot someone with the security involved, it's too crazy," said the source.